Bear
'A brilliant writer' Ann Patchett
Published on 26. June 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-3996-3089-4 (ISBN)
Description
'Thrilling and propulsive, glorious and terrifying. Julia Phillips is a brilliant writer' Ann Patchett
They were sisters and they would last past the end of time.
Sam and Elena dream of another life. On the island off the coast of Washington where they were born and raised, they and their mother struggle to survive. Sam works on the ferry that delivers wealthy mainlanders to their vacation homes while Elena does bar work at the local golf club, but even together they can't earn enough to get by, stirring their frustration about the limits that shape their existence.
Then one night on the boat, Sam spots a bear swimming the dark waters of the channel. Where is it going? What does it want? When the bear turns up by their home, Sam, terrified, is more convinced than ever that it's time to leave the island. But Elena responds differently to the massive beast. Enchanted by its presence, she throws into doubt the desire to escape and puts their long-held dream in danger.
A story about the bonds of sisterhood and the mysteries of the animals that live among us - and within us - Bear is a propulsive, mythical, richly imagined novel from one of the most acclaimed young writers at work today.
They were sisters and they would last past the end of time.
Sam and Elena dream of another life. On the island off the coast of Washington where they were born and raised, they and their mother struggle to survive. Sam works on the ferry that delivers wealthy mainlanders to their vacation homes while Elena does bar work at the local golf club, but even together they can't earn enough to get by, stirring their frustration about the limits that shape their existence.
Then one night on the boat, Sam spots a bear swimming the dark waters of the channel. Where is it going? What does it want? When the bear turns up by their home, Sam, terrified, is more convinced than ever that it's time to leave the island. But Elena responds differently to the massive beast. Enchanted by its presence, she throws into doubt the desire to escape and puts their long-held dream in danger.
A story about the bonds of sisterhood and the mysteries of the animals that live among us - and within us - Bear is a propulsive, mythical, richly imagined novel from one of the most acclaimed young writers at work today.
Reviews / Votes
Extraordinary. A short-storylike, fairytale level of intensity sustained across a novel. Completely convincing and unexpected -- Kiran Millwood Hargrave Wondrous. An addictive and revelatory read. I couldn't put it down -- Irenosen Okojie Phillips smartly keeps us guessing whether the fantastical creature ultimately sees Elena as friend or feast . . . Bear ends with a bang, and with the intriguing notion that sisterhood (or sisters?) may be as unknowable and unpredictable as anything else in nature * New York Times Book Review * A bold and brilliant modern fable of sisterhood, class, and our relationship to the natural world * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) * A wondrous second book-a fairy tale for the strange times in which we live -- Rumaan Alam, author of Leave the World Behind A story of sisterhood, daughterhood, care, and devotion, Bear will capture your heart and mind. I read in a state of wonder -- Jessamine Chan, author of The School for Good Mothers In prose of surpassing beauty, Julia Phillips collapses the boundaries between species, communities, and sisters. Bear is magical, suspenseful, heartbreaking, and humane. It is the most moving, most accomplished work of fiction I've read in ages -- Anthony Marra, author of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena Intense, moody, fierce, and relentlessly suspenseful -- Angie Kim, author of Happiness Falls A haunting fable . . . I was spellbound -- Julia Glass, author of Three Junes Bearis the brutal cage of the real world and the magical animal within-a book of untamed, glorious, abundant interpretations -- Megha Majumdar, author of A Burning I read Bear in one night and I am in awe -- Jean Kwok, author of Searching for Sylvie Lee Beautiful and haunting . . . This is brilliant * Publishers Weekly (starred review) * A fantabulous delight * Los Angeles Times * Wondrous. An addictive and revelatory read. I couldn't put it down. * Irenosen Okojie *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 194 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
264 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3996-3089-4 (9781399630894)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2024
Weidenfeld and Nicholson
€2.99
Available for download
Person
Julia Phillips is the bestselling author of the novel Disappearing Earth, which was a finalist for the National Book Award and one of the New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of the Year. A 2024 Guggenheim fellow, she lives with her family in Brooklyn.